Story About TSA Taking Soldier's Nail Clippers Still Isn't True, Years Later

Once again making the rounds on Facebook and in the blogosphere is the story of Indiana National Guard troops traveling home from Afghanistan. In the tale, one soldier was forced by the Transportation Security Administration to yield a pair of nail clippers. Seemed odd, as those soldiers were allowed to carry unloaded guns onto the flight. “What in the what?!?” you might be yelling.

Before you get your feathers ruffled, this is an old story that has already been debunked once. In the story, there’s an exchange between TSA and the guard which goes as follows:

TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You’re not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your F**K**G nail clippers so we can get the F**K out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]

We reached out to Homeland Security, and they pointed us to a TSA blog post from December 2010, which included a statement from the Indiana National Guard itself, denying the veracity of the story.

“TSA does not have personnel or conduct any screening in the facility where military charters are processed at Indianapolis International Airport.”

So if you see this making the rounds on your outraged pals’ Facebook pages, be sure to inform them they’re spreading a fake story, designed to prey on your already-existing TSA ire.